9 out of 20 water sources in Central Eastern region reaches critical levels

People living between Suva to Navua and in Levuka who are supplied water through the Water Authority of Fiji are urged to use water wisely and to store water as out of the 20 water sources in the Central Eastern region, 9 have reached critical levels.

WAF says supply is normal for now but the forecast for the next three months does not look positive and areas supplied from the Tamavua Water Treatment Plant system may experience temporary disruptions as the WAF Operations Teams might have to resort to valve operation, subject to the treated water production levels.

They say for the Central Eastern region, 5 water sources remain normal to approaching critical status with a continuous receding trend in level and flows observed.

WAF Acting Chief Operating Officer, Samuela Rokovaleusa confirms that recent findings of reaching critical water levels are the Deuba water source, Wainikavika water source (Navua), Tamavua water sources of Savura, Cascade, Headworks 3 and Waimanu, Korovou (Namau source), Vunidawa water source as well as the Levuka water source.

Rokovaleusa says the Waimanu River water level has reached critical, however, the cofferdam which is temporary measure at the water source has retained a level within safe yield.

The Acting Chief Operating Officer says minor rainfall events might not be significant enough to recover sources thus prolonged or high rainfall event is needed, however, the forecast for the next 3 months does not confidently indicate wet conditions for most of Fiji.